Opposite sexual dimorphism of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase in the kidney and small intestine of mice

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase (DDC; also known as l-amino acid decarboxylase) is involved in the synthesis of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, and also acts as an androgen receptor co-regulator protein. In contrast to other amino acid decarboxylases that are modulated by sex hormones, little is known about the influence of these hormones on DDC regulation. In the present work, we studied the influence of gender in the expression of DDC in different mouse tissues. Among the different organs studied, including brain, liver, kidney, intestine, heart, adrenal gland, and skeletal muscle, only kidney and small intestine showed a sex-dependent dimorphism in DDC expression. In the kidney, levels of DDC activity, DDC mRNA, and protein were remarkably higher in females than in males. On the contrary, in the small intestine, male mice displayed higher levels of DDC activity than females but they did not correlate precisely with mRNA levels. This dimorphism was dependent on androgens, since male castration and treatment of female mice with testosterone propionate, oppositely affected DDC levels in kidney and small intestine. However, estrogen ablation or treatment with estradiol did not significantly affect DDC activity in these tissues. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that DDC was mainly located in the proximal straight tubular cells of the kidney and in the cytoplasm of enterocytes. These data and the fact that renal DDC inversely correlated with renal sodium reabsorption suggest that renal and intestinal gender dimorphism in DDC could be related to sex-related differences in sodium balance observed between males and females.

Antiandrogenic effect of RU-486 in the mouse kidney

RU-486 (mifepristone) is a synthetic steroid with potent antiprogesterone and antiglucocorticoid activity, that is currently used as a contraceptive agent. In the present work we have evaluated the antiandrogenic effect of this compound on mouse kidney, a very well known extragenital model of androgen action by studying the effect of RU-486 on renal parameters that depend on androgens, such as renal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and kidney hypertrophy, as well as the inhibitory action of mifepristone on the induction of renal ODC and kidney hypertrophy elicited by testosterone treatment in female mice and in castrated male. The results showed that: (1) 48 hr after treatment of male mice with of RU-486 (50 mg/kg, four injections) renal ODC activity decreased from 3.381 +/- 490 nmol CO2/h.g to 605 +/- 163 (SD, n = 5); (2) in female mice or orchidectomized male mice, RU-486 also inhibited the renal ODC induction elicited by exogenous administration of testosterone propionate (TP), the magnitude of the inhibition was dependent on the doses of TP and RU-486 used. While RU-486 at a dose of 25 mg/kg inhibited more than 80% ODC induction produced by treatment with 5 mg/kg TP, the same dose did not significantly affect ODC when the dose of TP was increased up to 100 mg/kg. Higher concentration of RU-486 (200 mg/kg) clearly inhibited the increase in ODC produced by treatment with TP 100 mg/kg; (3) RU-486 was more effective in blocking the anabolic effects produced by stanozolol, a steroidal anabolizing agent, than those produced by testosterone; and (4) RU-486 was less effective than the nonsteroidal antiandrogen flutamide in inhibiting renal ODC activity in male mice. Our results clearly indicate that RU-486 possesses moderate antiandrogenic activity in mouse kidney. The possibility that RU-486 may have similar effects in man should be considered when using this drug.

Postnatal development of ornithine decarboxylase and polyamines in the mouse kidney: influence of testosterone

The role of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and polyamines in kidney growth during the postnatal development of mice and the influence of testosterone were investigated. A marked sexual dimorphism in renal size was evident after the 3rd week of life, corresponding with the rise in circulating testosterone and the increase in renal ODC and urinary excretion of putrescine in male mice. Renal putrescine and spermidine gradually decreased during the first 3 weeks of life and did not correlate with ODC activity. Treatments with alpha-difluoromethylornithine, and ODC-specific inhibitor, and the antiandrogen flutamide during weeks 4 and 5 showed that both compounds decreased renal ODC activity but only flutamide impaired kidney growth, suggesting that renal growth in mice is regulated by androgens but is independent of the induction of ODC activity.

Inactivation of ornithine decarboxylase by intermediates of tyrosinase-catalyzed reaction

1. Intermediates in the process of melanin synthesis formed through oxidation of catechols by tyrosinase produced the inactivation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key enzyme in the polyamine biosynthesis pathway. 2. The inactivation was dependent on the substrate used (dihydroxybenzylamine > L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine > L-tyrosine) and on the concentration of intermediate produced rather than on the rate of formation. 3. Sulfhydryl compounds (dithiothreitol and glutathione) or quinone-reducing agents (ascorbic acid) prevented the inactivation of ODC; L-ornithine, but not other amino acids, also protected partially ODC. The results suggest that different cysteine residues in ODC molecule are implicated in the inactivatory event. 4. When 14C-labeled catechols were used, numerous polypeptides resulted labeled, showing that the reactive quinones formed as intermediates in the process of melanin biosynthesis bind covalently to many cellular proteins.

The effect of glycine administration on taurine concentration in the rat liver

1. The treatment of rats with glycine (2 mg/g) produced a marked decrease in the hepatic taurine content of neonate rats but not of adult rats. 2. The decrease observed in taurine concentration in the liver of newborn rats was not found in other organs, such as brain or kidney. 3. The results showed that the change in hepatic taurine concentration was dose- and time-dependent, suggesting the existence of an exchange mechanism between taurine and glycine in the rat liver that could participate in regulating the hepatic concentration of these amino acids.

Glycine administration decreases hepatic taurine content in mice

The administration of glycine (2 mg/g) to mice showed marked increases in the hepatic content of some amino acids, specially glycine, serine and citrulline, but produced a notorious decrease in the concentration of taurine and aspartic acid. The depletion of taurine was higher than 50% after one hour of treatment, and was observed both in neonate and adult mice. The effect produced by the glycine treatment on hepatic taurine content was not observed in the heart, even after a larger amount of glycine administration. The results suggest the existence of an exchange mechanism of transport between glycine and taurine in the liver of mice.

The effect of polyamines on tyrosinase activity

The effect of several polyamines on the activity of tyrosinase from different sources has been studied. Diaminoethane, 1,3-diaminopropane and putrescine activated tyrosinase from Harding-Passey mouse melanoma but did not activate frog epidermis or mushroom tyrosinases. 1,3-diaminopropane was the strongest activator (Ka = 0.23 mM). The activation was saturable and dependent on the ionic strength. Cadaverine, 1,6-diaminohexane and spermidine had no effect on any tyrosinase. However, spermine inhibited melanoma tyrosinase more than the mushroom and frog epidermis enzymes. These results show that the effect of polyamines on mammalian tyrosinase is due to direct enzyme-oligoamine interactions rather than to a nonspecific action on L-dopa oxidation products, and suggest that physiological polyamines might play a modulatory role on mammalian melanogenesis.

Comparative study of tyrosinases from different sources: relationship between halide inhibition and the enzyme active site

The inhibition of tyrosinases from frog epidermis (Rana esculenta ridibunda), mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and Harding-Passey mouse melanoma by halides is compared. In all cases, the inhibition is pH dependent, increasing when the pH decreases. The order of inhibition is I- greater than Br- greater than Cl- much greater than F- for frog epidermis tyrosinase, F- greater than I- greater than Cl- greater than Br- for mushroom tyrosinase and F- greater than Cl- much greater than Br- greater than I- for the mouse melanoma enzyme. These results are discussed in terms of the active site accessibility to exogenous ligands. The activation energies of the enzyme-catalysed L-dopa oxidation were also calculated, being the values 6.86, 17.01 and 20.25 kcal/mol for frog epidermis, mushroom and Harding-Passey mouse melanoma, respectively. A relationship between these values and the evolutionary adaptation of these enzymes is proposed.

An electrometric method for the determination of tyrosinase activity

The pathway of dopachrome formation from L-dopa involves the net release of one proton for each molecule of dopachrome formed. The protons produced as a consequence of the enzymic step catalysed by tyrosinase can be measured by an electrometric device able to monitor changes in H+ concentration below 1 microM. This electrometric recording can be used as a simple, sensitive and continuous method for determining tyrosinase activity. The electrometric method can also be used in the presence of ascorbate by the spontaneous coupling of ascorbate oxidation to dopaquinone reduction, but measuring proton uptake instead of proton release.

Kinetic study of the interaction between frog epidermis tyrosinase and chloride

The effect of halide ions on frog epidermis tyrosinase has been characterized with the trypsin-activated enzyme. At pH 7, the order of inhibition is I- greater than Br- greater than Cl- greater than F-. Chloride, the most extensively studied halide, shows a competitive pattern with respect to the substrate, L-DOPA. Inhibition is strongly pH-dependent, with a pKa of 6.12 for the responsible protonatable group. Other kinetic constants are also calculated using a novel approach. The mechanism of interaction between chloride and the enzyme is discussed, and a model is proposed in which chloride interferes the tyrosinase activity by displacing a catalytically important ligand, probably a histidine residue of the side-chain, from the copper at the enzyme-active site.

Steady-state study of the mechanism of dopa-oxidase activity of tyrosinase

The mechanism of the dopa-oxidase activity of frog epidermis tyrosinase has been studied. Initial reaction rates have been measured as function of substrate concentrations, L-dopa and oxygen, in the presence and absence of an inhibitor, product of the reaction. Initial reaction rates versus substrate concentrations, without inhibitor, show a linear dependence in the double-reciprocal space, that discarded Ordered and Random mechanisms. Initial reaction rates versus substrate concentrations, in the presence of an inhibitor product of the reaction, show a non-linear dependence in the double-reciprocal space. This point, joined to the former one, indicates a Ping-Pong mechanism, different of the Hexa-Uni type. The reaction is discussed for first time taking into account a trisubstrate mechanism. The experimental results lead to an (Uni Uni Bi Uni) Ping-Pong mechanism. On the other hand, they can explain the differences between known data of tyrosinases from several sources. Michaelis constant have been calculated for both substrates. The values are 0.16 and 7.14 mM for oxygen and L-dopa respectively.

Kinetic study of the activation process of frog epidermis pro-tyrosinase by trypsin

1. The rate of tyrosinase formation has been calculated by coupling the activatory process of frog epidermis pro-tyrosinase by trypsin to the oxidation of L-DOPA to dopachrome. Under certain conditions ([trypsin]/[pro-tyrosinase] greater than or equal to 300), the lag period of the coupled reactions, tau, is independent of trypsin concentration. 2. The specific rate constant of tyrosinase formation at different temperatures has been calculated, ranging from 0.025 sec-1, at 5 degrees C to 0.248 sec-1, at 30 degrees C. 3. Thermodynamic parameters of the activatory process (delta G not equal to = + 18.5 kcal/mol; delta H not equal to = + 14.8 kcal/mol; delta S not equal to = -12.4 e.u.; Ea = + 15.3 kcal/mol), have been determined by the study of the system at different temperatures. These values are characteristic for a normal chemical reaction. 4. From these kinetic data, the order of products formation in the proteolytic step, can be determined, active tyrosinase being the last product released.

The process for the activation of frog epidermis pro-tyrosinase

1. Purified pro-tyrosinase from epidermis of the frog Rana esculenta ridibunda can be activated in vitro by several proteinases (trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, Pronase) and by light. 2. Both pro-tyrosinase and tyrosinase are composed of a single type of subunit having pI 7.2 and approximate molecular weights 68000 and 62000 respectively. A peptide of low molecular weight is released as a consequence of the proteolytic activation. Pro-tyrosinase and tyrosinase have different quaternary structures, the proenzyme being a dimer of Mr approx. 115000 and the enzyme a tetramer of Mr approx. 210 000. 3. The activation process was affected by several agents (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, urea, formamide) that prevented, partially or totally, the activation of pro-tyrosinase. 4. The activation of pro-tyrosinase seems to be the result of a cleavage of the polypeptide chain that determines changes in tertiary or quaternary structure.

Activatory action of trypsin on epidermis dopa-oxidase

Trypsin activated the Dopa-oxidase enzyme of frog epidermis, while carboxypeptidase "a" achieved only 50% of this activation. The enzyme can be activated by passing it through a column of insoluble trypsin coupled to Sepharose. Some properties of inactive and active dopa-oxidase are compared: a) Apparent molecular weight and Stokes radius of active enzyme are higher than those of the inactive one. b) The entropy change for denaturation of inactive enzyme is about 108 cal times mol-1 times degrees K-1; while the value is only --3.6 cal times mol-1 times degrees K-1 for the active enzyme. It is hypothesized that the activatory process consists of a tryptic rupture accompanied by a spatial unfolding of the enzyme molecule.